Tori swallowed convulsively, fighting back bile. She should be used to her father’s ways but sometimes he outdid himself in callous self-interest. There’d been not a word about how she was, or Oliver. How did he still have the power to hurt her even now?
‘Dad, I can’t talk privately.’
‘Why? Aren’t you alone? Ishethere?’
Tori opened her mouth to say goodbye when a hand reached for the phone.
‘If I may...?’ Ashraf couched it as a question but there was no mistaking it for anything other than a command.
For a second she hovered on the brink of cutting the connection. Then she shrugged. Fine. The two alpha males could battle it out between them.
But as she listened to Ashraf’s smooth voice she realised her father had met his match. Ashraf was gracious but firm, making it clear that their relationship was private, assuring her father that she and Oliver were safe and with every amenity at their disposal.
Her father’s tone changed from blustering to friendly, almost eager. Tori rolled her eyes. He thought to use this situation for personal advantage. The idea made her queasy.
* * *
Ashraf ended the call and handed her the phone. ‘He’s concerned about you.’
‘Concernedabout me?’ She shook her head, her expression disbelieving. ‘He’s never been concerned about me—except to make sure I don’t embarrass him publicly.’
Ashraf inclined his head. Tori’s words confirmed his impression of the man.
‘You don’t like him?’
Nor did Ashraf. Her blustering father had turned slyly obsequious, talking about building stronger links between their countries. His concern for Tori and Oliver had been surface-deep.
‘He’s hard to like.’
‘Go on.’ He’d been curious about her relationship with her father, but hadn’t pressed for details since he and Tori had other priorities. Maybe knowing more about it might help him understand her better.
‘I’d rather not.’
Ashraf considered her steadily. ‘I prefer to be prepared. He mentioned negotiating a marriage settlement.’
She goggled at him. ‘Hedidn’t? That’s outrageous! I never mentioned marriage to him and nor did you.’
Ashraf shrugged. ‘Nevertheless... I have a feeling he’ll be calling my office again soon.’ Not that he anticipated any difficulty in dealing with one whose motives were so transparent.
Tori sank back, rubbing her forehead, the picture of distress. ‘I’m sorry.’ She shook her head. ‘I never—’
He reached out, capturing her hand, relishing its fit against his as he closed his fingers round hers. ‘You’ve nothing to be sorry about, Tori.’
She met his eyes and sighed. She looked so upset Ashraf almost told her it didn’t matter, that they didn’t need to discuss this, but instinct told him it was important.
He waited patiently as the car drove towards the palace.
‘He’s completely self-focused,’ she said at last. ‘He married my mother for money and her family’s political leverage. He wasn’t interested in us, except to trot us out as the perfect family when it was time to impress the voters or the VIPs.’
Ashraf heard the hurt she tried to hide and vowed that Jack Nilsson would learn to respect his daughter.
‘Fortunately my mother was lovely. We were close.’
Presumably it was from her mother that Tori got her sweet, honest character.
‘Your father...he hurt you?’
‘Not physically.’ She paused. ‘Really, I was lucky. He wasn’t around much. He was away when parliament sat and the rest of the time he had other priorities.’